We’re not traveling as much in our fifth wheel anymore so I thought it would be fun to relive some of our most memorable days from previous RV trips. This January I am highlighting our January, 2012 snowbird trip to Florida.
Part 3 of our January, 2012 RV trip around Florida
On this day eight years ago, January 16, 2012, we were camped in Everglades National Park in Flamingo, Florida. This was the southern most location of our 2012 snowbird journey.
One of our favorite drives in Florida is Highway 41, a National Scenic Byway which goes from east and west through the Everglades. We stopped at the Oasis Visitor Center in the Big Cypress National Preserve for a look at the alligators before continuing on to the Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park.
We stopped at the Oasis visitor center on Highway 41 to check out the alligators
Our first time camping was three years earlier (more about that stay at Throwback Thursday #13 – December 5, 2009). The big difference between our 2009 visit and this visit was they had added electricity to some of the sites. There were only a few electric sites and they were available on a first come basis so we made sure to get there early enough to score the last one! Woo hoo!
Hawk hanging around the campground in Flamingo
The sunrise was spectacular over Florida Bay.
Sunrise in Flamingo, Everglades National Park, Florida
The birding was also spectacular.
Roseate Spoonbill in Everglades National Park, Florida
Heron in Everglades National Park, Florida
Spoonbill and Egret at Mrazek Pond, Everglades National Park 2012
Cormorant Everglades National Park, Florida
Osprey on nest, Everglades National Park, Florida
Green Heron, Everglades National Park, Florida
Flamingo is remote, natural, and wild. My kind of place.
We’re not traveling as much in our fifth wheel anymore so I thought it would be fun to relive some of our most memorable days from previous RV trips.
On this day ten years ago, December 5, 2009, we were camped in the Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park. We spent the day exploring the national park around Flamingo.
After entering Everglades National Park, the drive to the Flamingo Campground is another 38 miles through the park. Flamingo is the southernmost place in the mainland of the U.S. (The southernmost point in the U.S. is farther south in Key West.)
I wandered from our campsite in the morning to nearby Eco Pond where many wading birds were gathered.
Egrets and Spoonbill at Eco PondWood StorkRoseate Spoonbill
Later in the day we went for a boat ride on a big pontoon boat in Florida Bay. There were some White Pelicans on a sandbar close to the boat. There were also hundreds of White Pelicans on a sand bar too far away to take pictures. As we headed back to the dock the rain started coming down.
White Pelicans in Florida BayFlorida Bay on a rainy day
The Flamingo area of Everglades National Park is far from civilization and a wonderful place for bird watching and seeing other wildlife. In addition to the birds visitors can observe alligators and crocodiles in the wild. During certain times of year there may even be manatees in the water.
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states we have visited alphabetically. If you are looking for Connecticut or Delaware, we’ve never been to either of those states (except to drive through the Delmarva Peninsula without stopping) so the next state is
Florida
Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845. The capital is Tallahassee.
We started vacationing in Florida back in the 70’s and have traveled all around the state both before and after our RV travels began. For many years we traveled to the Florida Keys at least once a year. We’ve traveled all along the Atlantic Coast, Gulf Coast, to small towns and big cities, gone scuba diving and snorkeling in the beautiful coral reefs, caught many fish, boated to remote islands, visited museums and lighthouses, attended sporting events, tasted amazing seafood and key lime pie, explored two national parks and a national seashore, observed graceful birds and other wildlife, kayaked and canoed in the rivers, swam in the springs, watched many sunsets, and walked on some of America’s most beautiful beaches.
Florida is famous for it’s beautiful beaches and theme parks.
Gulf Islands National SeashoreMickey welcomes everyone to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World
There’s so much more to the Sunshine State than it’s beaches and theme parks.
With it’s many birds, wildlife, and beautiful landscapes, Everglades National Park is one of my favorite national parks.
Pa-Hay-Otee Overlook in Everglades National Park
The only way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park is to take a boat ride or seaplane trip from Key West.
Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park
Explore Fort Pickens and walk on miles of sugar white sand beaches in Gulf Islands National Seashore .
One of the cannons atop Fort Pickens
There are many small islands accessible only by boat. Picnic Island in the lower keys was one of our favorites.
Popular boating destination in the lower Florida Keys
Cedar Key is one of the small waterfront towns we love to visit.
Honeymoon Cottage, Cedar Key, Florida
I loved the Art Deco buildings in South Beach Miami.
South Beach, Miami, Florida
It’s always fun to stroll along the waterfronts.
Shrimp boats on the Appalachacola Waterfront
There are interesting structures to discover. The Perky Bat Tower on Sugarloaf Key was built in 1929 to house bats to help control the mosquito population. Unfortunately, the bats flew away and never returned.
The Perky Bat Tower, Sugarloaf Key was built in 1929
The Spring House in White Springs on the Suwanee River was a huge tourist destination in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Spring House at White Springs, Florida
There’s a famous headstone in the Key West Cemetery.
Famous headstone in the Key West Cemetery
U.S. Highway 1 goes from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West and we’ve been to both ends. The Southernmost Point in the continental United States is also in Key West.
Mile Marker Zero in Key West
The variety of birds never ceases to amaze me.
White Pelicans and Cormorants around Cedar KeyGreen Heron with fish in mouth Everglades National ParkRed Shouldered Hawk Big Cypress Preserve
Tiny key deer, endangered gopher tortoise, manatees, and of course alligators are some of the wildlife to be found.
The Key Deer located around Big Pine Key are just a little bit bigger than a Labrador RetrieverGopher Tortoise at our campsite Silver River State ParkAlligators along the Anhinga Trial, Everglades National Park 2012Manatee eating a carrot in Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Florida is home to beautiful springs and rivers.
Salt SpringsHillsborough RiverBig Shoals on the Suwanee River
Don’t forget the lighthouses.
Cape Florida Lighthouse
Nothing better than freshly caught fish for dinner! We cooked up this grouper after one of our most memorable fishing trips many years ago.
Henry with the biggest catch of the day!
Many Major League Baseball teams play their spring training games in Florida.
Atlanta Braves Spring Training at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
The historic Fort Gates Ferry carries people and vehicles across the St. Johns River.
Waiting to cross the St. John’s River on the Fort Gates Ferry
Wandering Dawgs 